Ewing leaves Garden a winner

Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2002

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Patrick Ewing got a rare start, made the game's first basket and went out a winner in what might have been his final game at Madison Square Garden as the Orlando Magic clinched a playoff berth with a 108-97 victory Tuesday night over the New York Knicks.

Ewing, who finished with 6 points, still has a chance to win the title that has eluded him throughout his 17-year career, while his former team and its fans are getting ready to begin the earliest offseason in 15 years.

Orlando won for the fifth time in six games and snapped a three-game road losing streak, moving two games ahead of the Charlotte Hornets in the race for fourth place in the East and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Nets 101, Wizards 88

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey won its first division title since joining the NBA in 1976, riding another showtime performance by Jason Kidd.

The Nets' 50th victory -- the most they have won in an NBA season -- wrapped up the Atlantic Division crown and cut their magic number for winning the regular-season Eastern Conference crown to three. Any combination of three Nets wins in their final four games or Detroit losses in its last five would clinch the conference's No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the Nets.

The Raptors, whose streak has come after losing 17 of 18 games, have won all their games since All-Star Vince Carter had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on March 26.

76ers 92, Bucks 90

MILWAUKEE -- Dikembe Mutombo scored 10 of his 22 points in a 3 1/2-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter for Philadelphia.

After Mutombo made one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left, Greg Anthony missed a 3-pointer from the left corner, then Anthony Mason grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to Tim Thomas. But he missed a game-tying jumper at the buzzer.

Heat 120, Rockets 117, 2 OT

MIAMI -- Eddie Jones scored 26 points and drained a 3-pointer in the second overtime to help Miami to only its third win in 11 games.

The Heat barely kept their playoff hopes alive. The only way Miami can salvage the playoffs is to win its remaining games and for Milwaukee to lose out.

Mavericks 108, Trail Blazers 96

DALLAS -- Michael Finley scored 27 points and Nick Van Exel 21 as Dallas avenged one of its most embarrassing losses of the season.

The Blazers went down fighting, though. Scottie Pippen was ejected with 2:11 left for throwing a punch at Van Exel, Rasheed Wallace was tossed with 58 seconds left in the third quarter for his second technical foul -- both for arguing with officials. Bonzi Wells, who had 26 points, got a flagrant foul in the first quarter that helped Dallas go ahead for good.

Grizzlies 97, Nuggets 86

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Stromile Swift had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Memphis beat Denver for the first time in 10 games.

Pau Gasol added 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Grizzlies. Both Swift and Gasol had four blocks as the Grizzlies set a season high for blocks with 16.

Suns 99, SuperSonics 92

PHOENIX -- Stephon Marbury had 27 points, including a three-point play in the final minute, Phoenix beat Seattle.

Marbury, who also had 11 assists, made a high-arching runner with 38.2 seconds remaining and was fouled by Gary Payton. The free throw sent the Suns to a 96-90 lead and gave them a boost toward snapping their four-game losing streak.

Lakers 112, Jazz 82

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 22 points after Shaquille O'Neal was ejected in the third quarter.

The Lakers led 68-62 with 5:16 left in the period when O'Neal picked up his second technical foul, which calls for automatic ejection, for throwing an elbow at Utah rookie Jarron Collins while going for a rebound.